Alkali Industry in Korea, Taiwan, China, and India

Chlor-Alkali Industry in Korea, Taiwan, China, and India 

Korea produced 1.035 million tons of chlorine in 2002 and added another 650,000 tons of capacity in 2003. More than 50% of the chlorine produced was used for VCM manufacture and the remainder was for food uses, steel production, ferric chloride, and sodium glutamate. Most other chlorine derivatives were imported from the United States and Western Europe. 

Taiwan s production of chlorine in 2002 was 987,000 tons, 79% of which was used for manufacturing EDC. Chlorine consumption is expected to rise by 5-6% per year during the next 5 years. 

China produced 6.2 MM tons of chlorine in 2001. About 72% of the capacity was based on diaphragm cells, 26% on membrane cells, and the rest by the lime-soda process. China produced over 100 chlorinated organics, 50 chlorinated inorganics, and 30 chlorine-based agricultural chemicals. Consumption of chlorine is projected to grow by 5% per year to 7.9 MM tons in 2006. 

India produced 2.05 MM tons of chlorine in 2001, membrane cells holding a share of 68%, mercury cells at 31%, and diaphragm cells at 1%. 

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